Young scratched from Tigers lineup for Game 3

DETROIT — Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland didn't have to wait until game time to make a decision on Delmon Young.

Leyland came into his pregame press conference Tuesday and said Young, who strained an oblique muscle during the American League Division Series vs. the Yankees, would not play in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series vs. the Texas Rangers.

"Delmon is obviously hurting too hard to play," Leyland said. "It stiffened up. It's really sore today. That's all I have for you.

"I'm not a doctor. If Delmon Young is not in the lineup, believe me, he's hurting, because he loves to play."

Young was originally out of the ALCS but was put back on the roster when Magglio Ordonez broke his right ankle and was lost for the remainder of the playoffs.

Young played in Game 2 and went 0 for 4. He looked particularly pained on a play in the outfield.

He was supposed to bat third Tuesday, but Leyland said he had to reshuffle the lineup. Outfielder Andy Dirks was in, but Leyland had to determine where. When the official lineup came out later, Dirks was batting ninth.

Porcello ready to go

Rick Porcello, Detroit's scheduled starting pitcher for Game 4, pitched two innings Saturday in Game 1 because of the two rain delays.

Leyland said that did not change anything.

"He'll be ready to go," Leyland said. "He's really well-rested. He's had some time off, and he had some longer times between starts recently.

"He'll be raring and ready to go. He won't be any different than any other time."

Porcello, who came into the interview room right after Leyland, confirmed that he was fine.

"I feel good," Porcello said. "My arm feels fresh. I feel like the ball is coming out of my hand better now than it was earlier in the year.

"I'll be ready to go tomorrow, and, physically, everything will be there."

Game 3 starter Doug Fister, like Porcello, is a sinker-ball pitcher who generally gets a lot of ground balls. Porcello watches closely.

"Just watching the way Doug goes after hitters," Porcello said. "He doesn't do anything crazy. It's just, he executes pitches and gets guys out quick and pitches deep into games."